Multivan Highline or DSG 25

[Luke]

Hello all,

I have been wandering around here for 6 months or thereabouts trying to decide on what multivan to buy this year and its getting close to happening.

Does anyone have any thoughts on the 25th anniversary multivan dsg 25? Looks very bling. Apart from the leather its a comfortline with nice wheels, is that right? For a $20k premium?

Can someone tell me if/where there might be some highline multivans in stock on the eastern seaboard? Doesnt seem to be any advertised on carsales. There are a few of the DSG 25 s however.

I also saw the thread posted yesterday about service pricing... ouch. My last new car was in 2007 - an sr5 hilux - and Toyota had fixed price servicing for the first 80k - about $200 per service i think from memory. This was the only reason I took it to a dealer. Are there any issues with using third party mechanics on the new vans?

Thanks for the info. Hopefully within the next month I will have this sorted and a new van in the driveway. (either that or a gxl cruiser - but that is a whole other story).

[Luke]

Not quite there yet.

The prices of the Editions have been slowly coming down. One on carsales last week close enough to 60k. So my choice is wait three months for a comfortline with the options or get the edition now. Or I can rob a bank and buy the $85k 4 motion highline thats on carsales as well.

Anyone see any other (relatively) cheap editions?

[brasstinman]

Is the 25th ann edition a 132kW? If it's not I wouldn't bother.
I'd rather get the 132kW with 4Motion and front diff lock as an optional extra. It's the one we have and we're very happy with how it has performed on slipper roads and down at the snow.
I threw it into sports mode on the way tonight and had the window open and it sounds and goes great. I only get to drive it on the weekends...
When I bought my van the dealer actually told me to just get the leather fitted after as you can get a much nicer leather for the same price.
But my misses doesn't like leather and either do I to be honest. Probably because any car I've been in that has leather hasn't been a really good quality leather so you can just feel hot and sweaty in it. I imagine in Europe it'd be nice but in AUS it's just not cold enough to enjoy the benefits of leather.

Good luck with your choice.

[Luke]

Picked up an edition last week - it is 132kw - and the wife is very happy with her new car. Took it for a run to brisbane and back on the weekend - nice to drive and nice to sit in the back, stretch out and muck around with the kids.

A couple of questions:

I had heardrest DVD players installed in my last car and still have them. They are good quality and only a few months old but I cant see a way of mounting them in the middle 'captains' chairs. Has any one done this? I would have liked to install a roof mounted DVD player but this also does not seem possible due to the airconditioning ducts and controls. Can this be done?

Lastly, while driving back yesterday I was flicking through the MFI and noticed the service was due in 39,000km or 740 days. Thats different to what the dealer wrote on the windscreen sticker - 15,000 km. So I checked the handbook (as you do) and it says something like '...your dealer will tick which box applies to your country...' regarding long life servicing. Mine isnt ticked either way. Obviously I would prefer long life servicing - saving me bucket loads - so can I just go with what the car tells me or what?

[Cousin]

Luke, you might save a bit now, but it'll bite you later
A straight lube service at a good mechanic will only cost you a few hundred dollars, a stealer will be a bit more
Stick with 15,000, that van deserves being looked after
Do that and it will last a very long time
You should have a good selection of mechanics in Coffs Harbour
Congrats on the new van too, they're not bad looking

M